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The Rules: How to Have a One-Night Stand

When done right, a one-night stand can be exciting and even empowering! Follow our rules to make it a great night! (13 Photos)

Julie Taylor on Aug 31, 2011 at 2:28PM

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The Rules: How to Have a One-Night Stand

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Protect Yourself

“Women can enjoy sex the same way men can,” says sex therapist Ian Kerner, author of She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman. And a one-night stand provides a great opportunity to enjoy sex with no strings attached. But you’ve got to be safe -- and smart. “Hooking up with a friend of a friend, or someone who is one or two degrees of separation from you, can make you feel safer and more comfortable since you’re not dealing with a totally unknown entity,” says Kerner. If you are hooking up with a stranger, he recommends going to your place (versus his) or even a hotel where there are people around as a safer option. No matter where you do the deed, condoms are a must. And watch your alcohol consumption, too. “So much casual sex happens as a result of inhibitions being lowered by drinking, but in the end, you want to feel like you made a good, safe decision,” Kerner says. “It’s fine to have fun and drink, but make sure you are the one lowering inhibitions for yourself and aren’t letting alcohol make you do something you wouldn’t normally do.” So one martini is fine, but four? Not so much.

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